Window cornice and the like



Patented Dec. l, 1925.

WILLIAM GOODROW, OF C HICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW CORNICE .AND THE LIKE.` 'i

Application mea any 1o, 1925. serial No, 42,716.

Chicago,` in the county of'Cook andzState` 5 of Illinois, have inventedcertain new uand useful Improvements in Window Co'rnices` andthe like,ofI which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with improvements `in the construction ofwindow cornices and similar structures. In order that the features ofthe invention may be better understood and their significance andusefulness more fully appreciated, I will first 'l explain certain factsin reference to the manufacture and sale of articles of this generalclassj Articles such as the foregoing generally have to be speciallyconstructed to meet certain exact specifications of size, shape, etc.,and it is furthermore necessary, in this connection, to make provisionfor allowing the purchaser a very wide selection of designs andmaterials. For example, a w-indow cornice of a certain size and shapemay be made from trimmings and moldings of a large number of differentdesigns. It is not practicable to carry all conceivable sizes and shapesin stock, and much less is it possible to carry each size and shape instock of a large number of different designs and combinations ofdesigns. As a result, commercially it is only feasible to handlematerials of this kind in the raw condition, and practically it becomesnecessary to i make provision for individually assembling eachparticular order according to its' individual specifications orrequirements.

Practically also a very large percentage of the orders for this class ofmaterial are placed with retail merchants, such as department stores,the customer selecting` the particular design which he wishes used forthe running-strips of the molding or like article which he wishes toorder. It then ybecomes necessary to assemble or manufacture thecompleted article according to such selections.

According to present processes andarrangements of molding, etc., theforegoing condition has heretofore made it necessary for the store orselling agent tothen proceed and cut the different parts to proper sizeand thereafter assemble them by gluing, nailing,`and similar opertiOns.This has entailed an enormous amount of overhead expense and clericalwork aswell as actual labor of fabrication, so that the sale ofarticlesof this class has not received the same impetus or consideration whichwould otherwise be possible. Furthermore, when the completed article isthus assembled `and delivered to the purchaser at the store it becomesnecessary for him tocarry away a bulky and unwieldy package; or else itbecomes necessary for the store to Vship out a large Vpackage which mustin every instance be carefully packed to avoid damage.y

In other cases wherel articles such as window cornices and the like havebeen completely fabricated at the factory according to definitespecifications, the delivery cost hasbeen greatly increased by reasonofthc dft.

necessityof careful boxing and vpacking of y a bulky, unwieldy article,and `in this connection it is frequently found impossible to nest7articles of this kind, so that the bulk and cost of the shipment areaccordingly increased. lFurthermore, fabricated articles of this sorttake a `very high freight rate, and this further adds very largely tothe delivery cost. l

The main object of the present invention is to provide molding stripsand corner or junction pieces for use therewith, Which parts are soformed and arranged that they can be very easily cut by simpleoperations to the necessary sizesv for assembly into the completearticle such as a window cornice, or the like; and furthermore to soarrange and construct these parts that no Y matter what length or sizethe running strips 1are cut, they willalso present'the proper holes toreceive the dowel pins for connecl tion to corner or gunctlon pieces orother running strips, and without the necessity of any drillingoperations on the part of the person assembling the job.

It is a further object in connection with the foregoing to provide therunning strips i themselves with continuous perforation's Fil which areuniformly spaced throughout the length of the running strips, so that nomatter where said strips are sawed or cut off, these perforations willbe exposed in the proper positioning and relative placing with respectto each other and with respect to the surfaces of the strip to receivethe dowel pins for connection either to other strips or to corner orjunction pieces.

It is a further object of the invention to establish the foregoingcontinuous perforations by forming the molding strip itself from twocompanion sections which have oppositely placed semi-circularcomplementary channels, so that when said companion sections are settogether', said channels will cooperate to establish the completelycircular perforation or hole of uniform size.

Preferably the foregoing result is secured by forming the molding stripfrom a pair of companion'strips set Vtogether in flat fashion and heldby gluing or otherwise; in which case it is also desirable to use atongue and groove arrangement in the companion faces of the two stripsso as to insure that they will be placed on exact registry whenassembled. Another way to establish the desired construction is byproviding one or more grooves in the main strip of molding', each groovehaving a semi-circular channel Y in its floor, together with arelatively small generally rectangular strip set into and closing'up`said groove, but provided on its interior face with a companionsemi-circular channel.V j

Ordinarily, the dowel pins will be permanently built into the corner orjunction blocks and set at the proper spacing to seat snugly into theperforations of the running strips when the parts are assembled, but insome instances the dowel pins may be left loose, so that the assemblermay himself set them into the .corner or junction blocks as well as therunning strips.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 shows an elevational view of the upper portion of a windowcasing having applied thereto a window cornice embodying the features ofthe present invention, and Yshow-ing also the curtains and drapesdepending from said cornice.

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a corner block together with a shortsection of running strip embodying the features of the present inventionand slightly'separated in position from the corner block;

Fig. 4t shows a vertical cross section on the lines 1 -1 of Figs. 1 and2loolring in the direct-ion of the arrows, but on enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the modified form of molding orrunning strips; and

Fig. 6 shows a cross section through another modified form of molding orrunning strip.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, I have therein chosen to illustratethe features of the invention vas applied in the case of a windowcornice, but it will be understood that the features of the inventionmay also be applied to many other articles as already explained.

The window cornice illustrated in the drawing includes a running stripof molding 7 having its exposed face suitably ornamented and of whateverdesign may be sclected. This running strip is generally used inconjunction with corner blocks or junction blocks 8 and 9 at its ends,and these likewise may be of any selected design and ornamentation.Usually also there are side strips 10 and 11 reaching fromfthe cornerblocks S and 9 to the wall 12 or the upper portion of the window casingor other structure to which the window cornice is attached. In theparticular construction illustrated, the attachment is effected by meansof a pair of screw hooks 13 and 14e reaching out from the wall orstructure 12 and engaging companion eyes '15 and. 16 on the end sections1() and 11, respectively.

'This, however, is a matter of detail and individual selection.

The running strip 7, Vand also the end strips 10 and 11 are eachprovided with a pair of longitudinally extending holes or passages 17and 18. These are parallel to each other and reach the full length ofthemolding strip, preferably being continuous throughout said length.Preferably also these holes 17 and 1S are equi-distantly spaced fromvthe upper and lower edges of the strip 'T or the strips 10 and 11, andalso the passages in the strips 1.() and 11 are preferably spaced atequal and similar spacing with respect to the passages in the strip '7.In other words, where the design of the sections 10 and 11 are the sameas the design of the section 7, all of these parts may be cut from asingle continuous strip of molding by squarc'sawing operations; whereas,if the designs of the different sections are different from each otherthey will naturally be cut from different strips, but owing to theuniformity of manufacture, the perforations in all of them will beequi-distantly and similarly placed. V

The corner or junction blocks 8 and 9 are provided with outstandingdowelpins 19, saidpins reaching straight out from the surfaces of the ycornerblocks, and being placed at the same spacing as the spacing of theperforations 17 and 18. Consequently, the corner blocks and moldingstrips may be set together and secured by the dowel lll pins no matterat what point the molding strip may be cut within its length, so thatthe artisan has assurance that no matter where he cuts straight acrossthe molding strip he will expose perforations which are correctly spacedand placed to receive the dowel pins of the companion blocks. To thesame extent also all of the parts a fully interchangeable.

The perforations 17 and 18 may be formed in any convenient manner, butthe arrangements illustrated in Figs. t, and 6 are favored. In theconstruction of Fig. 'fl the strip 7 comprises a pair of companionstrips 2O and 2l which have in their opposing' faces semirircularchannels which, when the coinpanion strips are set together, serve toestablish the complete circular perforations .17 and 18. This is soevident from Fig. a as not to require consideration. However, in orderto ensure proper registration of the strips and 21, I prefer to providea tongue and groove connection 22 on their companion faces, as clearlyindicatedL in Fig. fl.

In the modified construction of Fig. 5, I have illustrated therectangular grooves J ,.1') and 24 formed in the upper and lower edgesrespectively of the strip 7, together with other strips 25 and 26 whichmay be set into and occupy the major portion of the said grooves. Thesegrooves and strips are also provided with companion semi-circularchannels on their faces, so that when set together they also establishthe complete circular perforations.

The construction of Fig. 6 is similar to that of Fig. 5, with theexception that the grooves 27 and 28 are in the present instance formedin the back faces of the molding strip 7, the strips 29 and 30 being setinto said grooves fromsaid back face.

It will be evident that the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are suchas to make it unnecessary to maire any special provision for ensuring`proper registration of the com; panion semi-circular channels. It willalso be apparent that each of the different constructions illustrated issuch as to make it possible to establish the continuous perforations instrips of any selected length or design and by manufacturing processeswhich are extremely simple and can be cheaply and accurately perforated.

It will also be understood that although I have illustrated the featuresof the invention as having particular' application to a window corniceconstruction, I do not intend to limit the said features thereto, ex*cept as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

l. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamented frame comprisingruiming strips together with corner or junction blocks located betweenthe adjoining ends having companion semi-circular channels establishingcircular perforations or holes l extending throughout the entire lengthof the strip, the holes in each strip being parallel to each otherthroughout their length, and the holes in all of the strips beingequally spaced with respect to each other, the ends of the strips beingcut at right angles to the holes aforesaid and the corner or junctionblocks being seated squarely against said ends, together with dowel pinson the abutting faces of the different corner and junction blocksreaching outwardly therefrom at right angles, and spaced at the sainespacing as the perforations of the strips aforesaid, substantially asdescribed.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamented frame comprisingrunning strips together with corner or junction blocks .located betweenthe adjoining ends of said running strips and establishing connectionbetween them, the exposed faces of all ofsaid parts being suitablyornamented, ench running strip comprising companion sections settogether and suitably secured, said sections'having semi-circularlongitudi nally extending channels on their abutting faces serving toestablish continuous circular holes throughout the length of the runningstrip, said holes ,being equi-distantly spaced Jthroughout their length,the end portions of the running strips being cut at right angles to theholes, the holes of the different strips being equally spaced, dowelpins on the abutting faces of the corner or junction blocks andextending at right angles therefrom, said dowel pins being placed at thesame spacing as the holes aforesaid, whereby the dowel pins of thecorner or junction blocks may be used interchangeably in theperforations of different ruiming strips, sub stantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamented frame including arunning strip together with corner or junction blocks, both parts havingtheir exposed faces suitably ornamented, the ruiming strip coinprisingcompanion strips having semi-circular parallel channels on theircompanion faces serving to establish continuous circular holes orperforations equi-distantly spaced throughout their length, and eachcorner or junction block having a pair or dowel pins projecting at rightangles from its abutting face and equi-distantly spaced with respect tothe perforations aforesaid, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a frame including a running stripand a` corner or junction block, said ruiming strip having a pair ofcontinuous perforations extending throughout its length andequidistuntly spaced at all points, and the corner or junction blockhaving a pair of dowel pins projecting at right angles from its abuttingsurface and spaced equ-distantly with respect to the perforations of therunning strip, whereby the running strip may at any point be cut atright angles to the perforations at such point and the dowel pins of thecorner or junction block set into the ends oit the perfor-ations thusexposed, substantially as described.

WILLIAM GOODROXV.

